Want to transform your outdoors space and give it more of an urban jungle look? But the bushes and shrubs make it look more like a Victorian garden. Or is maintaining the rose garden becoming too much of a hassle?

Landscapes that feature greenery need regular maintenance, from trimming the bushes to lawn mowing. If this does not appeal to you, outdoor hardscape designs might be the right way to go. Learn about the best landscape designs and ideas that can help transform your home designed overall look and functionality.

What is a hardscape design? Simply put, installing a hardscape design focuses on the inanimate and solid aspects of the landscape project that is made by landscape architects. The materials include bricks, stone, gravel, asphalt, wood, natural stone, tile, and more. For example, a stamped concrete driveway, a stone wall, an eye-catching fire pit, garden designs or a rough-cut wood pergola will all be classified under hardscape designs. Hardscape designs have gained traction because they add aesthetic appeal and functionality in a previously underutilized property area. 

A proper hardscape design adds a sense of organization providing contrast to the natural elements such as plants, bushes, shrubs, perennials, grass, and more. 

Install an outdoor kitchen and bar and bring the party outside on doing outdoor dining. From having barbeques to Sunday brunch, transform your idle backyard into one of the hottest spots on your property. From minimalist designs to elaborate plans, having an outdoor kitchen increases your property's financial value and overall aesthetic appeal. 

People tend to underestimate the power of lighting. With the right light fixtures, you can change the entire look of your house and enhance the functionality of the space, which was out of bounds due to low light issues. In gardens and groomed settings, a yard light or garden lantern is a freestanding external light fixture. They're normally powered by electricity, but natural gas is also used. They're usually put near an outside path or driveway to provide visibility in gloomy places or locations that turn dark at particular times.

As much as you want to be on the beach, bathe in the sun and drink cocktails all day, that is not possible every day. With a cabana, you can at least feel like you are at the beach daily. Not only for the aesthetics, but cabanas also have a functional purpose with adding shade.

Want to transform your outdoors and give it more of an urban jungle look? But the bushes and shrubs make it look more like a Victorian garden. Or is maintaining the rose garden becoming too much of a hassle?

Landscapes that feature greenery need regular maintenance, from trimming the bushes to lawn mowing. If this does not appeal to you, outdoor hardscape designs might be the right way to go. 

Learn about the best landscape designs and ideas that can help transform your property’s overall look and functionality.

If you have an uneven or sloped backyard, you know that landscaping projects are considered a bit more complex. With hardscaping additions such as a retaining wall, natural stone steps, tiered patio, you can turn your unusable space into a fully functional area. It also prevents soil erosion by placing concrete barriers in erosion-prone zones or adding a synthetic ground cover to protect terrain from nature's wrath. 

Do you know how much damage the sun can do to your skin and your property? As much as everyone loves sitting under the shade of a luscious tree, it takes years to grow and mature.  With additions like cabanas, covered patios, trellises, and shade garden, you can protect yourself from the harsh rays of the sun and cool down in the shade while also enjoying the outdoor view. Apart from that, you can also stay away from nosey neighbours with a simple fence or a stone wall. 

A lot of people ask what the use of outdoor hardscape design is. A well-maintained hardscape boosts your curb appeal and adds value to your property. There have been instances where people have received a 150 percent return on investment during resale. In addition to that, you can also boast about having the most aesthetically pleasing outdoors in your entire neighbourhood. 

No more land mowing weekends or maintenance Mondays; your regular maintenance cost drops drastically with hardscape designs. Hardscapes are more durable in comparison to softscapes. They are also resistant to changing weather, so if you live in a place where it snows a lot, like Toronto, you will not have to worry about your flower beds freezing or your grass dying. Enjoy all the aspects of your landscape all year round with these low maintenance costs. 

If you plan to install hardscapes on your property, it is essential to know the fundamentals to avoid costly mistakes and get the desired results.

You have to begin where all great things start. To install your outdoor hardscape design basics, you need to have a vision or plan of your ideal landscape. Hardscape design is generally the backbone of your entire landscape project, along which softscape elements such as grass, plants and more are added. So what are the essentials? 

An essential step while planning your next hardscape design is to perform a site analysis. What does site analysis do? This helps you check essential elements like soil type, workable area, any hills or slopes that require special attention and more. It is like a health checkup before you go onboard. A site analysis helps you avoid any surprise that might incur extra cost and attention.

When talking about style, we mean it as a cohesive whole. The type of hardscaping you end up choosing will directly complement the architectural style of your house. You cannot mix and match hardscaping elements and expect them to work. Just as a victorian flower bed does not compliment the aspects of your contemporary house, the rules are the same for hardscape design. 

The style should also reflect your taste and personality. Whichever style you choose, it should fit the ambience and go along with your style.

Balance is a crucial element of landscape design in general. Create a perfect balance between your house and your landscape. For the ideal landscape, you need the right amount of hardscape and softscape.